Beneficiation
The process of improving the value of ore by removing waste material and concentrating the valuable minerals.
Detailed Definition
Beneficiation is any process that improves (benefits) the economic value of ore by removing gangue (waste) minerals and concentrating the valuable minerals. It increases the grade of material sent to further processing.
Common beneficiation methods
- Crushing and Grinding: Size reduction for liberation
- Gravity Separation: Uses density differences
- Magnetic Separation: For magnetic minerals
- Screening and Classification: Size-based sorting
Froth Flotation: - Most widely used method - Uses chemical reagents and air bubbles - Selective separation based on surface properties - Produces mineral concentrates
Dense Media Separation: - Uses heavy liquids or suspensions - Separates based on specific gravity - Common for coal and diamond processing
- Concentrate: Enriched valuable mineral product
- Tailings: Waste material for disposal
- Middlings: Intermediate grade for reprocessing
Benefits: - Reduces material for expensive downstream processing - Increases metal/mineral grade - Lowers shipping costs for concentrate - Removes deleterious elements
Beneficiation is a critical step between mining and final metal extraction (smelting/refining).